I'm outraged over Ike Skelton

[BushOut06]

First, he calls Gen. Betrayus - a war criminal if there ever was one - "almost certainly the right man for the job in Iraq". Then, he threatens to prosecute the CP protesters for exercising their Constitutionally protected right. WTF, did Newt Gingrich somehow channel himself into Skelton's body?

I am outraged that Skelton would treat the new Butcher of Baghdad as if he were some triumphant hero worthy of adoration. I'm outraged over the so-called "moderate" Democrats who help to enable this illegal occupation of Iraq. The American people have spoken, and they continue to make their wishes known - they want us the hell out of Iraq NOW. So why, why, why are we continuing to play footsies with * and his henchmen over this?

[PATRICK]

1. In these things

both parties assign people for specific roles, hatchet men, interrogators, fawners. This job assignment is far beyond any spontaneous sincerity or specific offensiveness. He's just doing his assigned job. All assigned jobs by the GOP are outrageous and individual a$$holes speak for all of them.

[DS1]

2. I would have also booted them out

It's not the place for continued disruptions.

[panader0]

5. As an earlier poster noted

"Getting kicked out is part of protesting" This thing is a circus of spin to promote an illegal and immoral war, nothing more. Hurrah for the protestors.

[BushOut06]

10. It's not so much that he had them escorted out

He could have simply had them escorted out of the building. But he didn't stop there. He then went on saying that he wanted them prosecuted. Big difference.

[H2O Man]

3. Baloney.

I think that what the protesters did was fine, but it surely was not Constitutionally protected.

[redqueen]

4. That's an easy one!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, of course!


edit: and about Code Pink... probably something to do with rules...

[Richardo]

6. Everyone's a war criminal, right?

That's about as overused as 'fascist'. It used to mean something, but keep on devalueing it.

[BushOut06]

9. You wouldn't consider Gen. Betrayus to be a war criminal?

What would you call the general overseeing an illegal occupation, using ruthless suppression measures to achieve "success" for his surge?

[Richardo]

11. 'Betrayus'...so clever.

Name-calling - really elevates the debate. I think Michael Savage uses that tactic too. Congratualtions.
The term 'war criminal' is so over-used it doesn't mean anything anymore. Thanks for contributing.

[BushOut06]

12. If the shoe fits...

A war criminal is someone who commits war crimes, or who either orders them or allows them to happen under their command. I think Gen. Petraeus (happy?) fits that bill pretty well.

[H2O Man]

16. I think protest,

including the play on his name, are fine. I think that it is pretty mild, actually, considering that many, many patriotic Americans feel that we are being betrayed. I think it is good to express the outrage and frustration that pro-peace people feel. My only disagreement with the OP is that the protesters were fully aware that they were violating a law, and that they would most likely face charges. We are reaching a point where it may be time to have more people engage in nonviolent civil disobedience.

[napi21]

7. Sorry, but it was a mistake for them to protest inside the hearing.

They have every right to do it outside, but to disrupt the hearing is wrong.

[Tesha]

17. Yes, they should have been polite and accommodating. Like Democratic politicians. (NT)

[defendandprotect]

8. And he may have called Code Pink protesters "assholes" --

A Common Dreams poster reported that Skelton's microphone remained on and he commented to Duncan Hunter that the Code Pinkers "pissed him off, the assholes."
Unconfirmed -- I didn't hear it
but he did have Code Pink thrown out --

[AtomicKitten]

13. He is an example of the dead wood that needs to be excised from Congress.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. do you think

ANY congressman holding a hearing will allow disruptors to continue? Of course not.

Skelton's one of the good guys.

[depakid]

15. so-called "moderate" Democrats

are little more than Republican enablers who rarely miss a chance to endorse or legitimize far right policies. Nothing that crowd does surprises me anymore.